She set her jaw. “Please call the desk clerk at the hotel. She said if the cops talk to her, she’ll tell them who the guy is. At least give me that. Toss me a bone, buddy.”
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.”
“You could get off your ass and make one simple phone call!” She hadn’t risked her sanity and shitting her pants in fear to fly all the way out there, just to be stonewalled by a lazy, albeit handsome, dick-Barney-fucking-Fife who couldn’t be bothered to let his fingers do the walking.
His expression darkened. “We’re done here, Miss Oxford.” He stood. “Do you need me to escort you out, or can you find the front door by yourself?”
“No, I can find it. Sorry I wasted your time. I’m sure somewhere in this city is a missing donut in need of your attention.” She grabbed her stuff and stormed out of the station.
Fuck! Me and my goddamned temper!
Jack blew out a relieved breath. Technically, he could have looked into the woman’s story, but from what she’d said it was most likely the sister needed a break from the craziness at home.
Especially if this woman was any indication of what the rest of her family was like.
The fact that she’d been the spitting image of Melodie hit him like a kick in the balls when he’d walked out to the waiting room to bring her back to his desk. Except for her hairstyle, she could have been her, just a few years younger than what she’d probably look like today.
If she hadn’t died.
He closed his eyes for a moment before leaving his desk and walking into the restroom, where he locked himself in for a minute so he could splash water on his face.
He didn’t need this. Why now? Suddenly, everywhere he turned, every conversation, even ones with Tim brought back memories of her.
He would have to tell Tim the full story. It’d probably hurt Tim’s feelings a little that he hadn’t talked about Mel before now, but Tim was good about understanding him. Never tried to pry things out of him.
Just like Mel.
Fuck. Except that Tim was a hunky guy, the two of them could have been twins, personality-wise. How had he missed realizing that in the past six years? Funny, spunky, sweet, smart, protective, loyal. Sexy and emotional.
He stared at himself in the mirror. It felt like he rarely smiled anymore. Another reason for Tim’s nickname. Stoneface.
He used to smile. A long time ago. He remembered being happy all the time, it seemed. Even if life was crappy, he had Melodie to cheer him up.
And…
But he didn’t want to think his name this morning.
He didn’t even want to think about the man he used to love.
She called Liam. “I blew it, bro.”
“What?”
“I just pissed off a cop.”
“You in jail?”
“No.” She told the story. “What do I do now?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe you should just come home.”
The thought of flying again filled her with panic. “I didn’t fly all the way out here not to find her.”
“She apparently doesn’t want to be found.”
“Tough shit. She should talk to us and give us an explanation. She bugs out without explanation, leaving us holding the bag? Fuck her. She’s going to have to tell us what’s going on so we know what to tell Mom and Dad.”
“Hold on.” She heard him tapping on his laptop. “Hey, they’re still in Rapid City. Well, she is, at least. Probably both of them from the amount. A purchase just came through on her Visa for a meal.” More tapping.
“Where?”
“I don’t know, hold on. It’s a Denny’s. Let me see if I can figure out which one.” More tapping. “Yes! I found it. I’m e-mailing you a map link right now. Where are you at?”
“Rapid City.”
“Smart-ass. Where?”
“How the fuck should I know? I don’t know how the hell I’m going to find the hotel again.”
“Gee, honey, what did I teach you about your phone when we got it for you?”
She sighed. “Built-in GPS.”
“Right. Go use it. Bye.”
She hung up and retrieved the address from her e-mail, wrote it in the notebook, then switched to the maps feature on her phone and plugged it in.
She was less than two miles away.
She made it without wrecking while trying to follow the phone’s directions. After a quick consultation with the manager on duty and showing her Amy’s picture, Gwen discovered she’d missed them by ten minutes. Discouraged, she returned to her rental.
The private eye option was looking better by the minute.
Her phone rang “Silent Lucidity,” startling her. “Did you find her?” Liam asked.
“No. Just missed them. She’s still with the guy.”
“Her friend Rita from work just called. She was trying to reach Amy. Apparently, Amy e-mailed her and told her she needed to take an extra two weeks of unpaid leave, cited personal issues.”
“Two weeks?”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “Come home, sweetie. We’ll deal with Mom and Dad. I’m sorry I sent you out there on a wild-goose chase after her. I’ll reimburse you for the flight, hotel, and car.”
“It’s the principle of the matter now.” And she couldn’t bring herself to step on a plane yet.
Liam’s tone turned big brotherly, the calming inflection he used to make her see things his way. “Gee, I can’t drive out there and get you. At least you can get drunk on the plane and have a taxi bring you home. You have to come home now. You’re done.”
The thought of flying again terrified her. Last night, in crisis mode, she could put it behind her. “Just one more day to look for her, please?”
His voice gentled further. “I’ll take a taxi to the airport and meet your flight, Gee. It’s okay. Come home. You tried. I’m sorry I made you go.”
“You didn’t make me go. I volunteered. How’s Ruthie doing?”
“I showed her the wonders of World of Warcraft. She’s addicted and having fun killing virtual monsters. Bob’s going to hate me. Come home, Gee.”
“I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” Then again, if she was getting on another plane, maybe eating was a bad idea. She would only puke it up again.
More tapping on his end. “There’s a flight out of there, connecting through Chicago again, at two. Want me to put you on it?”
“No.” She shuddered. “Just…wait. Okay?”
He sighed. “Go back to the room, get your stuff, check out, and go eat. Call me when you’re at the airport, and I’ll get you booked on the flight.”
Big brother trying his best to fix the only thing he could fix now, since they couldn’t find Amy. “No. I’ll do it. Let me go.”
She returned to the room and tried not to think about flying again. At least she could check her e-mail. She immediately spotted a message from TimE.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! You’re in Rapid City?? CALL ME right now!
Followed by a phone number.
Knowing she was only putting off her terrifying inevitable return flight home, she called the number. A man answered, his sweet, rich voice soothing her.